Late Bollywood actor Om Puri honoured at Oscars 2017

The 89th Academy Awards were held on February 26, 2017 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Like every year, this year too, the legendary names that are not among us were honoured with a special tribute. Among them was late Bollywood actor Om Puri, whose repertoire as an actor reflected a rare realism and was popular for films like ‘East Is East’, ‘Gandhi’, ‘City of Joy’ and ‘Wolf’

Puri, who died of a heart attack in Mumbai in January this year, was honoured in the ‘In Memoriam’ montage. He was given a musical tribute by Grammy and Tony-nominated singer and songwriter Sara Bareilles.

Other legendary names who also were a part of the montage were Carrie Fisher, Prince, Gene Wilder, Michael Cimino, Patty Duke, Garry Marshall, Anton Yelchin, Mary Tyler Moore, Curtis Hanson and John Hurt. Bareilles created an emotional moment as she rendered the song in memory of all the departed souls. While not in the video presentation, actor Bill Paxton, who died the night before, was mentioned by Aniston before Bareilles took the stage. (Also read: Om Puri’ ex-wife Nandita Puri finally breaks her silence over his unnatural death)

A National School of Drama alumnus, Om Puri nurtured an international career, which started with a cameo in Richard Attenborough’s iconic ‘Gandhi’. He also did some of his British films viz ‘My Son the Fanatic’, ‘East Is East’ and ‘The Parole Officer’. He also appeared in Hollywood films like ‘City of Joy’, ‘Wolf’ and ‘The Ghost and the Darkness’.

A Padma Shri awardee and National Award-winner, Om Puri was also made the honorary officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to the British film industry.